Sea Crest Surf & Racquet Club

My wife and I had a fantastic week in a two-bedroom condo, and I’m glad we came to see for ourselves despite the mix of reviews. We’re RCI points members. The rooms were clean and comfortable, and the staff were friendly. A heads-up: the bathrooms and kitchens are one step up, and they have you sign a waiver acknowledging it. The office closes at 5 p.m., so call ahead if you’ll arrive later. They can leave your key in a lockbox, then finish check-in the next morning. And yes, they still use actual keys, no key cards. Our main contact was “Big” Ron, who was professional, welcoming, and funny. He made sure we wouldn’t be without a place for the night and was always available to take care of anything we needed. Thanks, Ron, for your hospitality and for being the face of Sea Crest. It was an honor to meet you. There’s plenty of parking, three pools, nice grills, and a gazebo tent. The gas grills’ shutoff valves are near the ground and left closed when the grills aren’t in use, so find them before hauling your meat down. Coligny Plaza is across the street, with Piggly Wiggly, the Skillet Cafe, and several other restaurants right there. The beach and park are a short walk away. Everything was so close that I had to make myself move the car. The grounds are warm and welcoming, though it can be confusing to find the office the first night. It’s at the back of the building. Go through the gate by the elevator and follow the path. There aren’t washers or dryers in the room, but there’s a spacious laundry area by the office with several up-to-date machines. No change machine, either, but you can pay through the ShinePay app with a credit card. Scan the barcode and load only what you need so you don’t leave money in the app. It was easy, and there’s no need to bring quarters unless you want to. At Coligny beach, you can rent chairs and umbrellas until 5 p.m. Call the number by the lifeguard stand the day before to reserve; they’ll set them up with your name on a card, so you can skip hauling a wagon full of gear.

Our family has been coming here for over 30 years, and it feels like home. The staff are kind and attentive, and it’s a great place to stay while visiting Hilton Head Island. You can walk across the street to a Piggly Wiggly or browse the shops and restaurants at Coligny Plaza. The beach is a block away, but there’s no beach parking, so you’d have to walk about that far anyway.

The pool was lovely, and the landscaping and grounds were beautiful. The beach is a couple of blocks away. The rooms, though, were old, outdated, and uncomfortable. The king bed was terrible, and the kitchen was very poorly stocked.

There’s lots to enjoy here, with a playground, gazebo, two pools, and a hot tub. It’s great for hide-and-seek. Just keep an eye out for a few small snakes slithering around the walkway to the main pool and in the bushes.